Catawba's Owens sets another American Paralympic Mark

CHARLOTTE, NC -- The Catawba women were fifth and the men eighth over the weekend at the Fall Frenzy Swim Meet hosted by Wingate at the Mecklenburg Aquatic Center. Sophomore Ashley Owens (Stockbridge, GA/Stockbridge HS) once again highlighted the meet for Catawba as she broke another American Paralympic Record, this time in the 500 free.

Owens won the 500 free in a time of 5:10.58 which was just five one-hundredths of a second off the Catawba school record. It was a NCAA II ‘B’ cut time. The sophomore added a second ‘B’ cut swim in the 1650 free as she was third in a time of 17:54.58. It was also the third fastest in school history. Owens also posted a third-place swim in the 200 free.

Katie Huff (Richfield, NC/N. Stanly HS) swam to a second-place finish in the 100 breast (1:07.83) and was third in the 200 breast with a season-best time of 2:28.99. During the 100 breast she posted the fifth best 50 breast time, opening with a 31.52. Laurenn Singleton (Elkin, NC/Elkin HS) had the eighth fastest 100 back time in finishing fifth at 1:00.40.

The other top five finish of the weekend came from Lindsay Yarborough (Lexington, NC/C. Davidson HS) in the 200 back. She had a time of 2:12.15. The Catawba 800 free relay was fifth and had the sixth-best time in school history, while the 200 medley team posted the 10th fastest time and was sixth.

For the men, who are still battling injuries and illnesses, Taft Kallam (Randleman, NC/Randleman HS) had the best finish with a 13th in the 200 free. The 400 free relay team was 12th.